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Bappi Lahiri was an Indian musician, who is best known for extensively using synthesized disco music in his compositions. On 16 February 2022, he breathed his last at a hospital in Mumbai.
Wiki/Biography
Bappi Lahiri was born on Thursday, 27 November 1952 (age 69 years; at the time of death) in Sirajganj, Bangladesh (now Jalpaiguri, West Bengal). His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
An Old Picture of Bappi Lahiri
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Weight (approx.): 95 Kg
Eye Colour: Brown
Hair Colour: Black
Family & Caste
He was born in a Bengali Hindu family and belongs to Barendra Brahmins of Sandilya gotra.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Aparesh Lahiri, was a well-known Bengali singer. His mother, Bansari Lahiri, was a musician, and she was trained in classical music and Shyama Sangeet. Bappi was the only child of his parents.
A Childhood Picture of Bappi Lahiri With His Parents
Bappi Lahiri With His Mother
Relationships, Wife & Children
He got married to Chitrani Lahiri on 24 January 1977. He is survived by two children, daughter Rema Lahiri, who is a singer, and son Bappa Lahiri, who is a music director.
Bappi Lahiri With His Wife
Bappi Lahiri With His Son, Daughter, Wife, and Daughter-in-law (from left)
Bappi Lahiri With His Son
Career
He debuted as a music composer in the Bengali film ‘Daadu’ (1974). His first Hindi film as a music composer was ‘Nanha Shikari’ (1973). He came into the limelight with the Bollywood film ‘Zakhmee’ (1975). He worked as music-composer and singer in various Hindi films, like ‘Chalte Chalte’ (1976), ‘Disco Dancer’ (1982), ‘Namak Halaal’ (1982), ‘Sharaabi’ (1984), ‘Dharma Karma’ (1997), ‘Taxi No. 9211’ (2006), ‘The Dirty Picture’ (2011), and ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’ (2017).
He composed more than 5000 songs in different languages, like Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and Oriya. Some of his popular songs are ‘Yaar Bina Chain Kaha Re’ from ‘Saaheb’ (1999), ‘I Am A Disco Dancer’ from ‘Disco Dancer’ (1982), ‘Aaj Rapat Jaayein’ from ‘Namak Halaal’ (1982), ‘Raat Baaqi’ from ‘Namak Halaal’ (1982), ‘Dede Pyaar De’ from ‘Sharaabi’ (1984), ‘Tamma Tamma’ from ‘Thanedar’ (1990), and ‘Ooh La La’ from ‘The Dirty Picture’ (2011).
He worked as a music director and singer in many Kannada films, like ‘Africadalli Sheela’ (1986), ‘Krishna Nee Begane Baro’ (1986), ‘Police Matthu Dada’ (1991), and ‘Guru’ (1989). Some of his Telugu films as a music director and singer are ‘Simhasanam’ (1986), ‘State Rowdy’ (1989), ‘Rowdy Inspector’ (1992), and ‘Punya Bhoomi Naa’ (1995). He also composed music in many Tamil films, like ‘Apoorva Sahodarigal’ (1983), ‘Paadum Vaanampadi’ (1985), and ‘Kizhakku Africavil Sheela’ (1987). He dubbed for the character of ‘Tamatoa’ in in the Hindi-dubbed version of the animated film, ‘Moana’ (2016). In 2017, he dubbed the Hindi version of Hollywood actor Elton John’s character in the Hollywood film ‘Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle.’
Bappi Lahiri and Elton John
Net Worth
According to an estimate in 2019, his net worth was around Rs. 20 crores ($3 million USD), and he charged around Rs. 8-10 lakhs per song.
Signature
Bappi Lahiri’s Signature
Favourites
Death
On 16 February 2022, he died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) at Mumbai’s CritiCare Hospital. Reportedly, he was discharged a day before his death from the hospital, where he had been being treated for a month; however, his health started deteriorating, and he was again admitted to the hospital.
Facts/Trivia
- His full name is Alokesh Bappi Lahiri.
- The legendary Indian singer Kishore Kumar was his maternal uncle.
An Old Picture of Bappi Lahiri With Kishore Kumar
- He started playing the Tabla at the age of three and was well-versed in playing other musical instruments like piano, drums, guitar, saxophone, bongos, dholak.
- His fans call him ‘Bappi Daa.’
- His disco songs are very popular in India, and he is also known as ‘Disco King.’
- He held the Guinness Book World record for doing 33 films in a year.
- He was one of the most popular music composers in India. In an interview, he said,
I was the first Indian music composer to win the China Gold Award for Jimmy Jimmy from Disco Dancer. Adam Sandler repeated the song in his film Zohan. Disco Dancer is historical, as are Sharaabi and Namak Halal. In the 1980s I started disco with Mithun Chakraborty’s film Suraksha where he danced like John Travolta. I’ve also worked with Apache Indian and Boy George. I gave Samantha Fox her Bollywood break opposite Govinda.”
- From 1983 to 1985, he made a record by composing 12 super-hit silver jubilee movies starring the veteran Bollywood actor Jeetendra.
- Bappi was one among the few to get an opportunity to meet Michael Jackson during his India tour in 1996.
- On 31 January 2014, he joined BJP in the presence of the then national President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rajnath Singh. He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Srerampur (Lok Sabha constituency) but lost to Kalyan Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress.
Bappi Lahiri Joining BJP
- In 2002, a few lines of his song ‘Thoda Resham Lagta Hai’ were included in the English song, “Addictive” by the American R&B singer, ‘Truth Hurts.’ The copyright holders of the original composition, Saregama India Ltd., sued Interscope Records and its parent company, Universal Music Group, for more than $500 million for not giving credits in their song to the original composers and singer. Later, Bappi Lahiri was listed on the song’s credit.
- He also appeared as a judge in various TV singing reality shows like “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs” on Zee TV in 2006, “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge” in 2007, and “K For Kishore” on Sony TV in 2007.
- He composed the music for Shah Rukh Khan’s “Kolkata Knight Riders” team in the Indian Premier League in 2008.
- In 2018, he was felicitated with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 63rd Filmfare Awards.
Bappi Lahiri Receiving Filmfare Award
- He was quite obsessed with gold and sunglasses, and he would often say ‘Gold is my God.’ In an interview, he shared the reason behind wearing so much gold, he said,
My mother gave me this Hare Krishna Hare Ram medallion after my first picture hit. The locket around my throat is to protect my throat. In Hollywood, famous singer Elvis Presley used to wear gold chains. I was a huge follower of Presley. I used to think, if I become successful someday, then I will build a different image of mine. By the grace of God, I could do it with gold. Earlier people used to think, it is just a way to show off. But it is not so. Gold is lucky for me.”